Shuttle box and binder therefor



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Apr-ill M, 1941. G. W. KRETZSCHMAR SHUTTLE BOX AND BINDER THEREFOR Filed May 17, 1938 2 sheets shwt l Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,238,271 SHUTTLE EUX ANDBINDER THEREFOR George W. Kretzschmar, RidgewoocLN. J. Application May 17, 1933, Serial No. 208,457 17 Claims. ,(cl. 139-184) The present invention relates to a shuttle box and binder therefor and more particularly to a multi-cell shuttle box and binder in which the binder operates as a shuttle guide in addition to checking the movement of the shuttle at the end of its flight through the shedded weft threads in the loom.

The invention hereinafter described is particularly adapted for use in connection with steel shuttle boxes as described in my Patent No. 2,096,399, issued October 19, 1937, but it will be understood that the features of the invention hereinafter described may be used in connection with any form of shuttle box as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In connection with the form of shuttle box and binder now generally used the flight of the shuttleis arrested very abruptly, with consider able jar and noise. In the operation of the form of binder now on the market, the binder contacts with the shuttle over a large area, generally about 6 inches.

By the use of the form of binder hereinafter described, the friction face of the binder contacts through a length generally less than three inches, 1

but acts through a greater distance, operating through substantially the whole length of the shuttle box, whereby the jar and noise incident to stopping the flight of the shuttle is reduced to a negligible amount.

a In large plants in which hundreds of looms are in operation in a single room, the noise due to ordinary shuttle operation is very great, but by the use of the invention herein described the noise is reduced to such an extent that conversation may be carried on near the looms with comparatively little effort.

sq-The device of the present invention involves a novel construction by which greatly improved results in the operation of the shuttle box in arresting the flight of the shuttle are obtained.

The present improved construction omits entirely the usual mouth of the shuttle box by the omission or elimination of the curved guide plate 8, illustrated in Figure 2 of the said patent, which in the ordinary constructionserves to guide the shuttle into the shuttle box at the end of its night, and employs a bridge member which provides a free entry of the shuttle into the box, and a binder having a guide portion thereon.

The device of my invention employs a bridge member which connects the top and bottom or the upper and lower longitudinal members of the shuttle box and passes outside of the main body portion of the binder. The bridge member Cal serves also as a supporting member to cooperate with an adjustable stop member on each binder as hereinafter more fully described. By means of this construction, the binders themselves operate as guides to direct the shuttles into the shuttle box chambers, thus providing a free open passage into the shuttle box.

It will be apparent that this construction and arrangement of parts allows the friction of the friction member on the binders to initiate the retarding or stopping action of the shuttle to take place at a more advanced part of the flight of the shuttle than that which is used in the ordinary construction. It will be apparent, therefore, that the novel features of my invention permit the use of heavier shuttles without excessive vibration, and also permits more rapid flight of the shuttle, if desired.

The binder member, hereinafter more fully described, is preferably channel shaped, and of metal, as steel, to prevent distortion or bending of the binder during use. The binder carries the usual friction strip, preferably of leather, serving to provide the necessary friction to gradually arrest the movement of the shuttle in its flight.

The binder member in the preferred embodiment of my invention takes up the full length of the cell and projects slightly beyond the open end of the shuttle box, as illustrated in the drawings. The binder face to which friction producing material is preferably applied is advantageously made up of three curves, comprising a main curve in the body portion of the binder which is preferably about three-fourths of the length of the binder member and located at the central portion thereof; a forward curve at the nose portion of the binder; and a rear curve at the pivoted end of the binder. The latter curves are preferably about two inches in length in a binder having a total length of 15 inches, and merge with the curve of the main body portion.

The curve at the nose portion is of such form as to guide the shuttle into the box in the event that the shuttle strikes the flared nose portion of the binder.

The curve at the pivoted end of the binder may be varied to suit the particular size of the shuttle to be employed. This end curve may, in some cases, be merely a prolongation of the main curve in a straight line, or it may be a curve having a radius greater or substantially less than that of the arc of the main body portion.

It will be understood that the form of the end curve depends upon the width of the shuttle to be accommodated in the shuttle box.

With wider shuttles, the end curve will approximate a straight line, whereas with narrower shutties it will approximate more of a curve.

The binder may be of a width of substantially one-half of the cell height, and is preferably pivoted so as to contact with the shuttle only above the shuttle eye.

The binder may, if desired, be constructed having a width greater than one-half of the cell height, but sloping away from the shuttle face below the shuttle eye portion so as not to contact with the filler thread, whereby the filler thread will lie free out of contact with the shuttle and the binder in the cell.

In the form of shuttle box heretofore employed, there is an opening in the floor or platform of each cell which permits sagging of the thread which drops from the upper cell to a lower cell and frequently sags below the shuttle box,.whereby the thread becomes soiled, caught or broken.

In commercial operation, in order to avoid damage to the thread, the loom operator frequently pastes paper under the floor of the lower cell of the shuttle box. This make-shift arrangement serves to prevent drafts from blowing the thread around and reduces the amount of damage which ordinarily occurs, but it does not prevent entanglement of the thread in the upper cell or cells above the lowermost cell. Furthermore, the paper remains in place only temporarily and is unsatisfactory in operation.

In the forms of binders now generally used, it is also attempted to prevent the filling thread from sagging by using felt over the lower portion of the binder so as to catch and hold the thread. While this serves to some extent to lessen the damage, it frequently happens that the thread is not properly held by the felt and interference with proper shuttle flight takes place.

In order to prevent a sagging of the filling, or to prevent the filling from dropping from the top cell into the lower cell, or out of the lower cell and thus become soiled, damaged or broken, the device of my invention includes floors or so-called platforms, in the cells which are made solid and extend the full width of the shuttle box, or are of sufficient area so as to support the thread and prevent sagging into a lower cell or below the shuttle box.

The wide area platform hereinafter described is of sufficient area to contact with the entire bottom area of the shuttle and is straight, or in a single plane, serving therefore, to guide the shuttle in its flight, thus obtaining true shuttle flight and avoids danger of shuttle marks on the fabric produced in the loom. The construction serves also to permit free passage of the filling when entering or leaving the shuttle box.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain threads are more easily injured or soiled than others, and that certain types of filling threads are much more prone to be caught than others. Synthetic threads, such as rayon or cellulose acetate, are light and have little or no twist. Such threads may be easily damaged or marked by getting caught in the ordinary form of shuttle box, but by the use of the shuttle box of my invention having a channel and a narrow binder, the danger to such synthetic threads in the weaving operation is substantially entirely eliminated.

In the device of my invention, an adjustable stop member is employed in connection with the binder member which operates on a bridge memher. For this purpose I preferably employ an adjustable set screw together with a lock nut, which permits variation in the position of the end of the binder member, by which the point of initial contact of the shuttle with the friction strip, so as to obtain earlier or later contact with the shuttle in its flight, may be varied.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described in detail, the spring member by which the spring pressure of the binder member against the shuttle is obtained, is located at the rear end of theshuttle box, or in other words, at the portion thereof furthest removed from the mouth portion, whereby with the form of the end curve of the binder, above referred to, the pressure of the friction member against the shuttle increases toward the end of the flight in the arresting movement of the shuttle. When the shuttle is at the end of its path of movement in contact with the picker, it is held firmly by the maximum spring pressure at this point and cannot back away from the picker. It will be clear that with the form of construction hereinafter described, the shuttle in its flight is gradually brought to rest with a maximum spring pressure at the end of its flight, so that there is very little tendency for the shuttleto bounce back away from the picker.

It will be understood also that in the form of construction as shown in the drawings, a very slight adjustment in the binder pressure and binder position causes corresponding changes in the flight of the shuttle which may thus be accu rately controlled.

In the form of binder heretofore employed, the shuttle is stopped by contact with the binder through a large area of contact, and a relatively short distance of operation, so that a slight'ad justment in friction makes a very great difference in the binder action. In this prior form of binder it is obviously difficult to control or prevent backing away from the picker.

It will be understood that in the passage of a shuttle into the shuttle box, the contact of the shuttle and the binder occurs mainly at the front end of the shuttle. In order to prevent excessive wear on the shuttle, the forward or frontend thereof is usually made most solid or strongest. By the use of the platform guides which contact with the entire lower face of the shuttle in the same plane, as hereinafter described, a substantially accurate flight in the path of movement of the shuttle is obtained and shuttle marks in the woven fabric produced is avoided.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a form of shuttle box in which the usual metal curved guide plate is omitted so as to eliminate excessive wear on the shuttle by repeated contact with this metal guide plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of shuttle box and binder construction by which an increased length of frictional contact between the binder and the shuttle in its flight is obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of shuttle box having a form of construction which will permit adjustment of the binder elements to vary the path of frictional engagement of the shuttle with the friction surface of the binder, so as to control the retarding action on the shuttles and to compensate for variations in the shuttles employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of binder in a shuttle box in which contact with the shuttle takes place over a relatively small area but through a relatively long distance of contact so as to gradually retard and stop the flight of the shuttle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of binder in which the operating face is made up of a plurality of merging curves of a form which may be varied in accordance with the size or width of the shuttle in connection with which it is to be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of binder which will act on only the upper half of the shuttle away from the eyelet without interferring with the movement of the shuttle out of the box when struck by the picker and in which the filling thread is not pinched or caught by the binder and is free to move in and out of the cell.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of multiple cell shuttle box in which with the shifting of the box during the operation of the loom, the likelihood of the filling getting caught at the mouth or entry end of the shuttle box is reduced to a minimum.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the various features hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a. preferred embodiment of the invention and a modification thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a two cell shuttle box and binder therefor, embodying. the invention in its preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shuttle box and binder shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is a detailed plan View of the binder shown in Figs. 1 and .2;

Fig. 4 is adetailed sectional view taken on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. .5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is ,a sectional view taken on the section line 6-6 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an end View of the shuttle box as seen from the right in Fig. 1, and showing the position of the protector roller on the end face of the binder;

.Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of the binder and guide for the binder on the bridge member,

and

Fig. 9' is a sectional view taken on the section line 9,-9 of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it will be understood that while the invention is 1'1- lustrated in connection with a two-cell box, it may be applied to four, six and eight-cell boxes or to other multi-cell boxes by the use of the features of construction hereinafter more fully described.

The general form of the shuttle box is similar to that illustrated in the said patent except as to the mouth or entry portion of the shuttle box and also as to the form and supporting means for the binders. It will be understood that the shuttle box of the present invention may be made with or without the channel construction as illustrated in Figs. 3 and6 of the said patent, although in View 20f the advantages obtained by the channel construction on looms weaving artificial silk, this form of the invention is preferred in thisconnection.

box. The shuttle box is provided w'ithan upper longitudinal member 6, and an intermediate member or intermediate members 8, and a lower longitudinal member ill (Fig. 6). The intermediate and lower members 8 and Ill form the floors of the cells in the shuttle box and are fiat or form a single plane throughout the area which is to contact with the lower face of the shuttle so as to guide and support the shuttle in its flight out of the cell. The longitudinal members 6, 8 and H] preferably extend the entire width of the shuttle box and are formed solid so as to prevent air from passing through the cells of the shuttle box and to provide .a platform on which the filling thread may lie while the shuttle is in the box. The longitudinal members are united to a rear plate portion 12 which serves as a support for spring members It which engage the binders and are held in position by screws it.

Instead of the usual construction employing a guide plate over which the forward ends of the binders pass at the entry end of the shuttle box, I employ a bridge member [8 which unites the top member ii and the bottom member I0, and extends outwardly over but not in contact with the intermediate member or members 8 so as to give sumcient clearance for the operation of the binder members under the bridge member, as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 6 and '7.

The binder members 293 are preferably formed of metal, as steel, with a channel construction as illustrated more particularly 'in' Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the portion 22 thereof being made solid as illustrated in Fig. 4 to provide a solid support having a recess portion 24 therein in which the end of the spring member I4 is seated.

The rear ends of the binder members are preferably pivoted on a rod member 2E supported in lug members 25, 2? and 29 and the forward ends of the binders have a solid enlarged curved nose portion 28 as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the face portion 3% thereof serving as a bearing for the protector roller 32 which rides thereon.

The protector roller rides on the face portion of each of the binders as the shuttle box is shifted in position, and is pivoted on the protector rod, by which the loom is stopped in the event the shuttle does not arrive in the shuttle box at the proper time.

The inner face of the binder element which engages the shuttle in its flight, is preferably surfaced with .a friction strip, as of leather, which extends substantially the entire length of the binder and passes over the nose portion of the binder, being glued or otherwise fastened in place at the end portions thereof by means of screws 34 and 35. The friction strip is preferably terminated a sumcient distance from the seat 30 of the nose portion 23 so as to leave the portion thereof which contacts with the roller 32 uncovered, as seen more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The face of the binder which contacts with the shuttle is prefer-ably made in the form of a curve such that in the movement of the shuttle into the shuttle box, the binder will contact with a very limited area of the shuttle at any one time, so that the eifect produced is the application of a relatively small amount of friction through a relatively great distance.

It will be apparent that by means of the bridge construction as shown and the use of a binder of a form having a forward flaring nose portion which passes under the bridge member in place of a metal guide plate to guide the shuttle into the box, the binder serves not only as a guide for the shuttle .but serves also to apply retarding friction to arrest the shuttle flight.

In order to operate most efficiently, the binder face is preferably formed in three merging composite curves comprising a main curve portion A at the main body portion of the binder, a sharp curve or flare B at the forward or nose portion of the binder, and a rear end curve C at the pivoted end portion of the binder.

The main curve A at the main body portion is preferably an arc of large radius. For most shuttle box sizes, the are at the main portion of the binder may be a radius of between the limits of four to eight feet, although a narrower limit for the best operation with ordinary shuttle box sizes would be between from a five to seven foot radius.

The curve B at the nose portion of the binder is preferably in the form of a flare which merges with the main curve A, the curvature increasing outwardly to the end of the nose portion, as illustrated in the drawings.

The curve C at the rear portion of the binder may be varied to suit the size of the shuttle in connection with which it is to be used. The curve portion C may be a straight line, or it may be an arc of a radius greater or less than that of the main portion A, or it may be a gradually decreasing or increasing curve, depending on the size of the shuttlewhich the rear curve is to engage to finally arrest the shuttle in the flight.

It will be understood that the curve C may be adjusted to suit any particular shuttle by bending the metal of the binder at the rear end portion to the desired form, although the binders are preferably formed to the exact size required with a particular size shuttle.

As a specific example of the preferred form of a commercial size of the binder of my a binder having a total length of 15 /2 inches preferably has the curve A of the main body por tion in an are having a radius of six feet, the are extending through a distance of about 11 /2 inches at the face of the binder. The curve B extends through a distance of about two inches and gradually increases from the point at which it merges with the main curve to the outer end of the nose portion, so that in the event the end of a shuttle strikes any portion of the forward end curve of the binder, the shuttle will be gradually brought into line so that the longitudinal axis of the shuttle is substantially parallel with the longitudinal guard strips 4 at the rear end of the cell. distance of substantially two inches and gradually slopes away from the point of merging with the main curve A so that the maximum area of contact with a shuttle is at the portion of the face of the binder under the portion 22 for a distance of not more than three inches.

The binder is preferably supported at the pivoted end thereof in such a manner that contact with a shuttle occurs only at the portion of the shuttle above the eyelet, so as not to interfere with the free passage of the filling when a shuttle enters or leaves the box. The binder may be made of a width of slightly less than one half the height of a shuttle as illustrated in the drawings, or it may be made, if desired, with a contacting portion for engagement with the upper portion of the shuttle and sloping away from the contacting surface, so as to form a wider binder in which the contacting portion engages only the portion of the shuttle above the eyelet and leaves invention,

The rear curve C extends through a sufficient room so that the filling thread may lie on the platform out of contact with the binder.

In order to give ample room for the filling thread in the shuttle box the platforms or floors of the cells preferably extend the entire width of the shuttle box and are preferably provided with flanges as 9 and II to prevent the thread from passing over the edge of the platforms. In the preferred construction of the floors of the shuttle box, channels or grooves l3 and I5 are preferably employed where there is likelihood of kinking or injury to the filling thread, as for example in connection with the use of artificial silk.

In order to obtain adjustability in the position of the binder, so as to regulate the point at which the shuttle may contact with the binder, and to give a greater or less distance of contact between the shuttle and the binder, through which frictioning action occurs, an arm member 36 extending outwardly from the body portion of the binder and over the bridge member I8 is provided, the arm member being preferably made integral with the body portion of the binder.

The portion 40 of the arm member 36 is preferably provided with a set screw 42 and lock nut M, the bottom portion 46 of the set screw engaging the outer lateral surface of the bridge member so as to limit the inward movement of the binder member. By means of this construction, the distance through which the friction element engages the shuttle member in arresting the flight of the shuttle, may be varied as desired.

It will be apparent that as the binder member moves outwardly toward the vertical portion of the bridge during the frictional engagement of the friction element therewith, the nose portion 28 of the binder element clears the bridge member, the portion 28 being provided with a cutout part forming a surface portion 48 parallel to the path of movement of the nose portion in the movement of the binder about the pivot 26, so that the nose portion 28 does not contact with the bridge member in the pivotal movements of the binder.

In order to partly relieve the pressure at the bearings of the binder on the supporting rod 26, due to the weight of the binder, the arm portion 40 at the nose end of the binder is preferably supported in its movement by means of lugs or supports 50 and 52, the supports being preferably made integral with the bridge member.

It will be understood that as the arm portion 40 engages and slides on the support 50, for example, little friction is created and there is no interference with the free movement of the binder element in checking or cushioning the movements of a shuttle.

The lug member 54 shown at the bottom of the shuttle box illustrated in Fig. l, connects with the usual box lifter rod, by which movements of the shuttle box are controlled.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, a modification of the shuttle box and binder of my invention is shown, in which the bridge member [8 is moved back from the entry end of the shuttle box, a distance of about one-fourth the length of the shuttle box and the arm 36 of the binder member 20 is also moved back from the nose portion of the binder a corresponding distance so that the adjusting device on the arm will be over the vertical portion or face of the bridge member.

In place of the projections 50 and 52 to support the ends of the binders in this form of the invention, I provide lug portions as 60, 62 and 64 which extend rearwardly from the bridge mem- 2,238,271 berbeyond the outwardly extending portion,

serving as a guide and protection for the arm 36 of the binder member, s In this form of the invention as illustrated, it will be noted that the floors of the channel box'are of relatively thin metal, and extend in a single plane without a grooveor channel, this construction being preferred in constructions where the heavy platform cannot be used on account of the lift.

It will be understood that various changes or modifications may be made in the forms of the device illustrated without departing from the spirit or scope of th invention as defined in the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

i 1. A multiple cell shuttle box comprising upper, lower, and intermediate longitudinal members, said lower and intermediate members being solid throughout and forming the floors of the cells, said floors being of a width, throughout the length thereof, greater than the width of the shuttle to be accommodated thereon, thereby preventing the filling thread from dropping below' the floor of each cell, and a binder mounted in the upper portion of each cell and extending the full length of the shuttle box with no intervening parts interposed between the binder face and the shuttle in its flight into the cell so as to permit operation of the binder throughout its entire length, said binder being of a width so as to contact with the shuttle only above the eyelet, so as to leave space below the contact portion for thefree movement of the filling thread in the cell above the floor thereof and rendering the filling thread operation visible in the shuttle box without stopping the loom.

2. A shuttle box for a loom having upper,

lower and intermediate heavy non-warping platforms of a width substantially greater than that of the shuttle to be accommodated, providing a plurality of cells therein, a channel extending longitudinally in each of the platforms in the portion thereof outside of the portion occupied bya shuttle when in the box, a binder in the said box, means for pivotally supporting the binder above the position of the eyelet when the shuttle occupies the corresponding cell, so as not to pinch or touch the filling thread when supported in each of the said channels and means for adjusting the position of the binder so as to determine the total length of, the contact with the shuttle in passing to its innermost position in the shuttle box.

3. A metal shuttle box comprising upper and lower and intermediat longitudinal members, a bridge member connecting only the said upper and lower members and extending outwardly from said members so as to permit free entry of a shuttle into the box, a metal binder in said box pivoted at the rear end thereof and extending forwardly under th said bridge member, and an outwardly curved nose position on said binder to uide a shuttle into the box.

4. A metal shuttle box comprising upper and lower and intermediate longitudinal members, a bridge member connecting only the said upper and lower members and extending outwardly therefrom so as to permit free entry of a shuttle into the box, a binder pivoted at the rear end of the shuttle box having a curved nose portion adapted to guide the shuttle into the box and a shuttle engaging face extending longitudinally of the binder under the said bridge member and spring pressing means to press the said binder inwardly for pressure engagement with the shuttle.

5. A metal shuttle box comprising solid upper and lower and intermediate longitudinal members, said lower and intermediate members of which extend the full width of the box, a bridge member connecting the said upper and lower members and extending outwardly therefrom so as to permit free entry of a shuttle into the box, a metal binder pivoted at the rear end of the shuttle box, said binder having a curved nose portion adapted to guide the shuttle into the box and a shuttle engaging face extending longitudinally of the binder under the said bridge member and means on the binder for cooperating with the said bridge member for adjusting the position of the binder in relation to the inward movement thereof.

6. A metal shuttle box comprising upper,

lower and intermediate longitudinal members, a bridge member connecting only the upper and lower members and extending outwardly therefrom, a metal binder pivoted at one end of the shuttle box and having a curved nose portion at the other end thereof serving to guide a shuttle under the said bridge member into a cell of the box and means extending from said binder for engaging the said bridge member so as to limit the movements of the binder in relation to the corresponding cell to initiate proper guiding contact of the binder with the shuttle. 7. A metal shuttle box comprising upper, lower and intermediate longitudinal members, a bridge member connecting the said upper and lower members and extending outwardly from said members so as to permit free entry of a shuttle into the box, the said lower and intermediate longitudinal members being solid and of a width greater than the width of the shuttles to be ac commodated in the cells, a metal binder of a length so as to extend the full length of the box and beyond the entry end of said box, means for pivotally supporting said binder so as to contact Witnthe shuttle only on the upper half thereof away from the eyelet, the said binder being curved so as to engage with the shuttle over an area not more than three inches in length so as to provide a long path of frictional engagement of the binder with the shuttle in a relatively small area of contact.

8. A metal shuttle box having a top member and a bottom member and a plurality of cells therein, a bridge member adjacent the entry end of the cells uniting the top member and bottom member and extending outwardly so as to leave a free open end for the entry of the shuttle into the cells, a binder positioned in each of said cells having a face portion and a flared nose portion, said nose portion being adapted to contact with the shuttle in its flight into the cell and to guide the same therein, frictioning material on the face of the binder to provide frictional engagement from the point of contact with the nose portion to the rear end of the binder member, the said binder member having a long curve adapted to contact with the shuttle through a relatively small area of contact so as to provide a relatively small amount of friction through a relatively long path of engagement with the shuttle and means for adjusting the position of the binder so as to determine and vary the length of frictional engagement with the shuttle.

9. A metal shuttle box having a top member,

a bottom member and an intermediate member forming a plurality of cells therein, a bridge member adjacent the entry end of the cells uniting the top member and bottom member and extending outwardly over but not in contact with the intermediate member so as to leave a free open mouth portion for the entry of the shuttle into the cells, a binder member positioned in each of said cells having a flared nose portion adapted on contact with the shuttle in its flight into the cell to guide the same and to provide frictional engagement from the point of contact to the rearward end of the binder member, the said binder member having a long composite curve adapted to contact locally with the shuttle through a length of contact not substantially greater than one-fifth of the binder length at any one time throughout its length, so as to provide a relatively small friction surface through a relatively long path of engagement with the shuttle.

10. A metal shuttle box having a top member, a bottom member and an intermediate member forming a plurality of cells therein, a bridge member adjacent the entry end of the cells uniting the top and bottom members and extending outwardly over but not in contact with said intermediate member so as to give clearance for the operation of the binder member under the bridge member and to leave a free open mouth portion for the entry of the shuttle therein, a binder member positioned in each of said cells having a friction face with a flared nose portion adapted on contact with the shuttle in its flight into the cell to guide the same, said friction face serving to provide frictional engagement from the point of contact to the rearward end of the binder member, the said binder member having a long composite curve adapted to contact locally with the shuttle during its passage into the box through a length of contact not substantially greater than about one-fifth of the binder length so as to provide a relatively small frictional engagement through a relatively long total distance, and means for adjusting the position of the binder so as to determine and vary the total length of frictional engagement with the shuttle.

11. A multiple cell shuttle box comprising upper, lower and intermediate longitudinal members forming a plurality of cells therein, said lower and intermediate members having throughout their length a flat continuous surface in a single plane for supporting a shuttle of a width greater than that of the shuttle to be held thereon, thereby forming platforms adapted to guide the shuttle throughout its movement out of the cell, at the outer edge of each of the platforms away from said shuttle of sufficient height to retain the thread on the platform, a longitudinal channel in each of said platforms adjacent each of the said flanges, a binder member in each of said cells extending throughout the length of said platform having a curved form so as to contact with the shuttle at any one time in only a small arc of contact, the width of the binder members for contacting with the shuttle being substantially onehalf the width of a shuttle as to leave the portion of the shuttle below the eyelet free for the unhampered movement of the filling thread along said platform and means for supporting the binder in the upper portion of each cell so as to contact with the shuttle above the eyelet portion.

12. In a metal multiple shuttle box for a loom, a metal binder having three determined curves comprising an arc of large radius at the main body portion of the binder adapted to contact with a flange l a shuttle at any one time in only a small arc of contact, a curve flaring outwardly from the arc of the main body portion to form a nose portion of the binder serving to initially guide the shuttle into the box, and a relatively short curve at the pivoted end of the binder of less curvature than said arc serving to finally arrest the shuttle in its flight.

13. In a shuttle box for a loom, a binder having three merging curves forming the face of the binder of a composite form so as to contact with the adjacent face of a shuttle in only a small arc of contact at any one time comprising an arc of a radius of from four to eight feet at the main body portion thereof, a sharp curve flaring outwardly from the arc of the main body portion forming the nose portion of the binder to first contact with the shuttle in its flight into the box and a relatively short curve at the pivoted end of the binder of less curvature than said are and merging with the said arc so as to contact with the shuttle face to bring the shuttle to rest.

14. In a shuttle box for a loom, a binder of a composite form and curvature so as to contact in only a small arc of contact at any one time with the adjacent face of the shuttle, the main body portion of which is in a curve approximating an arc of substantially six feet radius, a sharply curved nose portion adapted to initially engage the shuttle to guide the shuttle in its flight into the box, and an end section of less curvature than said are at the pivoted end of the binder of about two inches in length variable in form from a straight line to a moderate curve, depending on the width of the shuttle with which it is to cooperate in the cell, the said end curve operating to provide the maximum friction exerted on the shuttle in its movement into the box at the pivoted end of the binder.

15. In a shuttle box for a loom, a metal binder the main body portion of which is in a curve approximating an arc of from four to eight feet radius, a flaring curved nose portion adapted to engage the shuttle to guide the same into the box, an outwardly extending arm at the forward portion of the said binder, having adjustable means thereon operative to coact with the shuttle box for limiting the inward movement of the binder when the shuttle is out of the box.

16. A metal shuttle box comprising upper, lower and intermediate longitudinal members, a bridge member connecting said upper and lower members and extending outwardly therefrom, a metal binder pivoted at one end of the shuttle box and having a curved nose portion at the forward end thereof serving to guide a shuttle within the said bridge member into a cell of the box, an arm on said binder passing over the said bridge member, and means on said arm for engaging the said bridge member so as to limit the inward movement of the curved nose portion of the binder in relation to the length of contact with the shuttle to be engaged thereby.

1'7, A multiple cell shuttle box comprising upper, lower and intermediate longitudinal members forming a plurality of cells therein, said lower and intermediate members being of a Width greater than that of the shuttle to be held thereon throughout their length, thereby forming platforms adapted to retain the shuttle threads thereon and to prevent passage of air through the shuttle to disarrange the thread on said platforms, a flange at the outer edge of the platforms away from said shuttle of sufficient height to retain the thread on the platform, a binder member in each movement of the thread along said platform, means for pivotally supporting the binder at one end thereof, and means for supporting and guiding the nose end of the binder with movements 5 into and out of contact with the shuttle.

GEORGE W. KRETZSCHMAR. 

